Despite the likelihood of a substantial reduction in government revenue from import duties, The Bahamas continued to move decisively during 2010 to pursue full WTO membership. According to The Bahamas government spokesmen, the process involving WTO scrutiny of the country’s future trade regime would take three years to complete.

By June, The Bahamas had signed Tax Information Exchange Agreements with 22 countries, well beyond the minimum of 12 that met the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD’s) threshold for compliance with tax-cooperation rules on international money laundering. This effort was lauded by the OECD, which underscored the key role The Bahamas played in offshore banking and finance.

In July a joint venture (established in 2009) between energy companies Statoil (of Norway) and the Falkland Islands-registered company BPC Ltd. announced plans to start the search for oil offshore The Bahamas by 2013. Following the evaluation of the results of seismic surveys taken in 2008, BPC seemed particularly optimistic about a Bahamas discovery, having negotiated five other licenses. The last exploration effort offshore ended when in 2006 Kerr-McGee (now Anadarko) halted an unsuccessful drilling program.

The government’s privatization policy was reaffirmed in July. An announcement revealed that the sale of 51% of Bahamas Telecommunications Co. would proceed.